WRESTLING: Mountain View wins Diego Gadea Invitational

Mountain View Marana won the team championship of the Diego Gadea Salpointe Invitational with a score of 196 points and Tucson High came in second with 178. The complete list of team and individual results can be found below but first a bit about the invitational itself:

Jeannie and Manuel Gadea's son, Diego, was an outstanding wrestler. He won the 160-weight class of the Salpointe Wrestling Invite in 2010 but he was also suffering from something very painful and very mysterious that most parents, schools and friends do not like to talk about.

Diego was diagnosed with childhood depression at age 11 and, even though all measures humanely possible were used to help Diego, he took his own life in June of 2011.

I'm not going to try put a number on it and I'm not going to quote the obvious that for every teenage suicide there are many, many more failed attempts. I really don't care. As a father of three kids myself, one attempt is too many.

Salpointe changed the name of their yearly invitational to the "Diego Gadea Salpointe Wrestling Invitational" in an effort to help remember Diego and, perhaps, help other teens who may feel lost.

"It's really an honor," said Jeannie told me when the Invitational began. "He had a passion for wrestling and he loved it. The team has been really supportive."

As usual, Jeannie and Manuel were on hand to help with the award ceremonies on Saturday night. They placed medals around the necks of every boy who stood on the stage at Salpointe and offered them hugs. If you go to enough of these events, you know very few of the wrestlers smile on the stand. Heck, some of them really don’t want to be up there unless they are standing on the top step, but that has never been the case at this meet.

"They go through a difficult week with practice and then worrying about their weight," explained Manuel. "They usually are pretty upset when they don't win."

But something is always different. The couple spoke briefly with each wrestler while putting the medals around their necks and each came away with a smile.

"They find out who we are and they hear everything is okay and it helps to change their mood," explained Jeannie. "All of the wrestlers Diego competed with are gone now but this is an important learning moment for all these boys.”

Walden Grove sophomore Diego Guerrero (43-4) was named Outstanding Wrestler from the 115-pound division and Coolidge senior Jesus Zamorano (37-5) was named the Outstanding Wrestler from the upper-divisions.

Mountain View senior Frankie Lee (36-4) won in the 154 division to help pace the Mountain Lions to the win. In all, ten wrestlers from Mountain View made it to the final round Saturday night.

Sectionals for all divisions are set for Saturday, Feb. 4.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or simply dial 911.